Tag: God knows

“It Only Takes a Taste of Him”

In my upcoming book, OMG! What’s Been Done with Jesus? Bringing Christ Back to the Forefront (scheduled for release December 2025), I briefly discuss Psalm 34:8 (NIV), which says, Taste and see that the Lord is good.

It’s no surprise to me that the Lord alludes to food here; Jesus, too, used food as metaphors. The definition of taste is “the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.” As a verb, it is to “perceive or experience the flavor of.” I think this is precisely what God wants humankind to do.

When a friend invites us to taste a dish they’ve prepared or are still cooking, we rarely gulp down a full plate or take a big spoonful of it. We put a small amount into our mouths to see if it is flavorful, well-prepared, or tastes delicious. Does the mixture of spices and seasonings delight our taste buds?

God, in His wise simplicity, invites humankind to do the same. He’s telling us here that we don’t have to try to experience the full measure of Himself all at once or rack our brains trying to perform activities well enough to know Him (i.e., praying, bible reading, going to church, or ridding ourselves of wrong). No.

In this verse, the Lord simply invites us to experience a small taste of Himself. This taste will prove His goodness and faithfulness. The Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary notes the word “taste” in this verse as a verb. The Greek word is γεύομαι (geuomai), which means “to taste, eat, partake of,” usually implying enjoyment of the experience. (Retrieved from Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Copyright © 2006 by William D. Mounce.)

Partake of an experience with God, the Father, which only happens upon believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. Don’t try to go big to impress people or because of pressure from others. Don’t do it to compensate for your losses or faults. Simply taste Him. You may say, “But I don’t have much faith at all.” That’s okay. Jesus said, “…Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 NIV).

“Yum! He is soooo good!”  Go ahead, just taste; you’ll enjoy the experience; trust me. 😊

Be blessed until next time…

Dad’s Day: Make it Special

Happy Father’s Day fellas!

My dad left us in 2009. The thing I remember most about him is how he was a diligent, prompt, hard worker. He retired from Rohm and Haas after almost 40 years, doing that shift work. He rarely missed a day. I didn’t know all those years until my teen years, my dad could not read. Wow! But he showed up to work everyday! Phenomenal!!

Dads are special to kids. Nobody like them. I often watch and tell the story how moms can be doing it all–everyday, every year. Dad walks in one day with one toy or a thing the kid loves. The kid smiles broadly, and screams loudly, with a burst of excitement, “LOOK AT WHAT MY DADDY GOT ME! MY DADDY GAVE ME THIS!!” They walk around the house or school or the neighborhood waving that thing around as if daddy just gave them a piece of gold worth millions!! Lol

That’s the affect dads have that moms don’t. 😉💙

Enjoy your day Fathers. You rock!

Be blessed until next time!.

Kingdoms of the World vs. the Kingdom of God

I like CNN; it’s where I usually follow the breaking news, gain information on U.S. or world events, watch documentaries about “notable” figures, and get information on old/new political administrations. I like CNN’s format for delivering the news, its various anchors and newscasters, and the guests who appear to discuss, explain, and/or help us better understand what’s happening worldwide. I can watch it all day, especially if it’s something significant (i.e., our new U.S. government administration). I must admit, however, I was feeling agitated and getting sad and depressed after listening to the news daily these past few weeks. As a follower of Jesus Christ (i.e., a Christian), I needed to take a break to check my thoughts and get some perspective.

Jesus explained to His followers that there are two different kingdoms—a kingdom that operates on the earth and a spiritual kingdom, which operates in the heavenly realm. People govern the kingdoms of the world and oversee and orchestrate affairs on behalf of the citizens and the earth. In contrast, the kingdom of God, which Jesus is really king of, is spiritual and is concerned with God’s rule, action, lordship, sovereign governance, and God’s will and ways being declared and manifested on earth. Once, when being questioned by one of the high-ranking officials in His day, Jesus tells him how His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:28-37).

It’s important to note that Jesus never disregarded or disrespected the kingdoms of the world or its leaders. An example is found in Matthew 22:18-21, where a group who hated the fact that Jesus claimed authority over God’s kingdom tested Him on this very issue. It reads, “Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.”

This clearly demonstrates how Jesus acknowledges Caesar’s (or a government’s) authority and the respect we should show it. (Pay your taxes, in so many words.) And, Jesus pays His tax when he sends his disciple (or follower) Peter to find a coin to pay the Temple tax. Read it in Matthew 17:24-27. He also acknowledges here a reverence for God’s kingdom.

Finally, the Bible urges Christians to pray for world leaders, even those who are flawed. This further demonstrates God’s respect for earthly kingdoms and who’s in place to govern its affairs. (See 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and Colossians 1:16-17.)

Here’s the break I needed to take after listening to CNN. I had to step back, get God’s viewpoint, and shift my perspective so I wouldn’t be so depressed. I realize now God appoints world leaders; they’re put in place by Him. “Whaaat? OMG!” I should and can pray for them because there is a Master who is over them—the One who governs the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 6:9). 🙂

Be blessed until next time.

Surviving Those Life Whammies (Sheesh!)

The last day of January—already. These days seem to fly by fast now. Thank the Lord, I made it through holiday and New Year’s celebrations without my 3rd eldest sister, whom we buried in early December. Her absence was noticeable. She was boisterous, funny, and active in my family members’ lives. Her death was another one of those life whammies for my family; we weren’t expecting it. So, my January days were up and down, with a barrage of emotions. We have questions, don’t we, in those unexpected life events? They abruptly change everything and leave us in a state of wonderment. What do you do in such seasons of life?

Merriam-Webster defines a whammy as “a potent force or attack; specifically, a paralyzing or lethal blow.” That’s what my sister’s death was to my family—a lethal blow.

Interestingly, I received an email from Pastor Chuck Swindoll of Insight for Living Ministries. He was beginning a study entitled, The Mystery of God’s Will. “That’s it,” I excitedly thought. “I need this study.” I immediately jumped in and listened to the first video. Boy, was it right on time! The very first session started putting things into perspective regarding my sister. No, God didn’t audibly speak to me about why she died, clarify His reasons, or answer my specific questions. You see, in the Bible, there are just simple precepts and principles by God, or stories in which you may see your situation. Characters in the scriptures have some of the same feelings as you. I was amazed! The study runs until February 18, although you can listen to the videos at your leisure. There are even notes to download where you can discover additional scripture and record your thoughts. Here’s the link, https://insight.org/broadcasts/library.

This is what I do when I’m confused by life. It’s where I run in this age of misinformation, deception, and lies. A lot is being broadcast today. This is also the purpose of my blog: to inspire people to read the Bible and find answers about God, get direction in life, find hope, successfully overcome life’s challenges, and navigate through those life whammies that fall upon all of us at some point. God’s word truly uplifts because its contents are true. Are you searching for some truth, or do you need answers to your dilemma, for your problem? Pick up the Bible and start reading—at any place in it. You’ll see! 😊

Be blessed until next time. 😊

P.S. Prayers for the whammy thrown at the families of the 67 people and military persons killed in the D.C plane crash.

Reflections on the Last Day of 2024

Happy New Year’s Eve friends!

It’s true, we really do not know what a day may bring, let alone a year (Proverbs 27:1). For me, 2024 resulted in the loss of five family members–an aunt, three cousins, and last, my 3rd eldest sister. Some deaths we anticipated were soon to happen; others came unexpectedly, without warning. Regardless of when and how they occurred, these loved ones are gone, and I must venture into 2025 without them.

What God says in His word about people, life and death, and eternal matters resonated in my thoughts. Loved ones will one day cease to be because life is limited and death is sure. We must make a decision about where we will spend our eternity.

Jesus Christ assures us that God is the only eternal One, who will never grow tired or weak, cease to be, or stop loving us. He is the only One we should have complete confidence in as we journey into 2025. He is the only sure thing that will never change.

When loss does occur, we must make changes, adopt new mindsets, and follow new protocols or ways of doing things; my sister was the one who drove me to all events. The publishing of my book has halted, so the process is pushed back. I haven’t looked at the manuscript since November. It’s okay because I needed to be sad, grieve, and think about my sister. Lord willing (I now say), I will resume in January, because I did not know 2024 would end in such a way. We can, however, acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty, continue with our plans, and move forward confidently if we’ve made the Lord our refuge and secured our eternity.

So, with that said, here are two brief excerpts from my upcoming book, each from a different chapter.

Excerpt:

“We learn how Joseph worked as a carpenter to care for his wife and family. Jesus was their eldest child, but they had more children. Mark 6:3 (also in Matthew), tells us that Jesus had four younger brothers and at least two sisters. The sisters’ names have been preserved, but the brothers were called James (in the Hebrew, Jacob), Joses (in the Hebrew, Joseph, after his father), Simon, and Judas or Juda (also known as Jude)…”

And, later…

“Eventually, my eldest sisters followed mom and continued hosting the home and community bible clubs. My oldest sister, Chris, put the best spin on it to me by incorporating a puppet show in the clubs. She did shows at home and eventually began using a friend’s church building to host them. The children came and loved it. It had a significant impact on them! Of course, my sisters distributed goodie treats and juice each week, and there were Bible contests and games with prizes. So, it was my mother who instilled in us a love for God and His word, a compassion for children, and the importance of inviting others to receive Jesus Christ into their lives.”

We see here that Jesus too had siblings and understood the whole family dynamic; He felt the same love for His loved ones as we do for ours.

Be blessed until next time. Happy New Year! 🙂